The Soccer Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Toyota Park has a max capacity of like 24,000 or so. It's a beautiful park but about half the size needed for a World Cup match.

 

Why did you earlier say that field turf is a detraction? Aren't some of those cities named turf stadiums?

[USSoccer]

Toyota Park has a max capacity of like 24,000 or so. It's a beautiful park but about half the size needed for a World Cup match.

 

Why did you earlier say that field turf is a detraction? Aren't some of those cities named turf stadiums?

 

7 out of 18 are currently field turf stadia. They wouldnt have left off New York and Washington no matter what, and ditto for JerryWorld, which will compete with NY and DC for the final. JW also has a "3 Field kit" which means it can easily be converted from the current field turf to grass in 48 hours. Seattle fully and completely deserves to be on that list based on the market and the way the Sounders were embraced by the city, and Qwest is going to likely be converted to grass anyway prior to 2018/2022. Boston is on because of the Kraft influence on Gulati and USSF, but quite honestly doesn't deserve to be on the list, as I think Gilette is a terrible facility. Atlanta as a transportation hub, I guess, and it is a good soccer market, plus Blank has plans to build an open air stadium. Baltimore and Indy I don't get.

 

What they did in 1994 was to plant grass over astroturf at the Silverdome and the Meadowlands. Given Soldier Field's inability to grow grass as a primary playing surface, perhaps the USSF decided to forgo the risk that trying to grow it over field turf could present. Playing on that surface as it stands could potentially be embarrassing on the world's stage.

 

We all knew that when they rammed the renovation down our collective throats that doing the stadium essentially for a single purpose could harm any future event bidding, like the Olympics and the World Cup. However, the Bears wanted luxury seat money, and they got it and the price of a more versatile and smaller venue.

 

Between that potential concern and the very real dimension issues I can see the argument behind leaving Chicago off the list. However, KC and DC as well as the Linc have the same dimensional concerns as Soldier Field, although if Dan Snyder's Enormodome gets built it wont matter, and again, the Hunt family would have to be all dead and gone before KC got the shaft.

 

That said, as Wolf pointed out Chicago is the 3rd biggest city and market in the country and by rights should be a venue city based on infrastructure alone. Once the FIFA selection process is done we can put the matches in any city we want. If our goal is to ensure we are awarded the tourney in the first place, leaving off a stadium that currently doesn't fit the FIFA regs for bidding purposes makes sense.

 

Finally, only 12 cities will actually host games. There are going to be snubs regardless of what they do. For what it's worth, I'd guess that if we do get the bid for 2022, Chicago will be a host city as will San Francisco, also not on the list but due to get a new stadia in Santa Clara County by then.

[Exile on Waveland]

I've posted many positive things about Indy's ability to host sporting events (it has great infrastructure for conventions and sporting events; including arguably the best combination of basketball-football venues in the nation). It would do a functionally fine job of hosting the World Cup, in my opinion.

 

However, it should absolutely not host the World Cup. Indianapolis is simply not the kind of city you want to spotlight for foreign fans/visitors. You want the foreign fans to be impressed by the cities/locations as well as the stadia -- and Indy would be incredibly low on any such list. Functionally, it could succeed, but it lacks any je ne sais quoi whatsoever to host a major international event like the World Cup. I seriously doubt it would happen anyway, though.

 

Chicago surely would make the final cut. It's exactly the sort of city that should host -- easily the flagship city of the middle part of the country. I would think both it and San Francisco, as USSoccer said, would be potential/likely venue candidates.

[wolf stansson]

Landon with another good performance. 7.5 out of 10 as Everton win 2-0 to City. Everton dominated and Fellaini is the realness.

 

 

Jozy not in the squad this weekend. Also, Michael Orozco signing with Philly.

[USSoccer]

DAMMIT

 

1645: Benni McCarthy bends a free-kick over from 25 yards for Blackburn. News comes through that Fulham's Clint Dempsey has been taken to hospital for a scan on his injured knee.

 

I'm going to inject heroin into my forehead if Deuce misses South Africa.

[wolf stansson]

DAMMIT

 

1645: Benni McCarthy bends a free-kick over from 25 yards for Blackburn. News comes through that Fulham's Clint Dempsey has been taken to hospital for a scan on his injured knee.

 

I'm going to inject heroin into my forehead if Deuce misses South Africa.

F

[Jon]

Reuters[/url]"]"The initial prognosis for Clint is not good," Hodgson told the BBC. "It looks he has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage which if he has keeps him out of action for a while.

 

"We won't know for certain until the scan is completed on Monday but the doctors are normally very good at diagnosing these things and that was their prognosis."

[wolf stansson]

A little perspective if it is what they say it is. Gooch ruptured the patella and is going to be back in time. They're thinking Clint only tore his cruciate, so he should be back in around three months.

 

He should consider a loan spell to MLS to get into shape in the lead up to SA.

[USSoccer]

A little perspective if it is what they say it is. Gooch ruptured the patella and is going to be back in time. They're thinking Clint only tore his cruciate, so he should be back in around three months.

 

He should consider a loan spell to MLS to get into shape in the lead up to SA.

 

That makes three 1st choice players that are going to be in fitness battles ahead of SA. Two of our three best offensive weapons and our best CB. Our other CB can't get any tick at Rennes.

[USSoccer]

PCL injuries usually don't require surgery. I'd bet he misses 6-8 weeks. Which rules him out for Netherlands away, but if its a 2.5 month thing, it might mean he's that much fresher come June and that's not the longest layoff ever. 2 months of Prem action to regain his fitness prior to WC camp.

 

/end optimism.

[shnsajax]

PCL injuries usually don't require surgery. I'd bet he misses 6-8 weeks. Which rules him out for Netherlands away, but if its a 2.5 month thing, it might mean he's that much fresher come June and that's not the longest layoff ever. 2 months of Prem action to regain his fitness prior to WC camp.

 

/end optimism.

 

If that can happen that would be great. Why does this happen as he is begining to peak though?

[wolf stansson]

Our other CB can't get any tick at Rennes.

Apparently he's about to move to St Etienne on loan with option to buy.

[Jon]

No injury update until tomorrow.

[wolf stansson]

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2010-01-18-thierry-henry-to-new-york-red-bulls-with-raul#more-27281

 

Raul + Thierry Henry to NYRB.

 

That would be how you kick off opening the best stadium in the league. Holy s. I don't know who's providing the service, but they'll score some damn goals.

[USSoccer]

No injury update until tomorrow.

 

MRI's take about 10 minutes to read. My guess is Fulham has been in touch with the USSF and Bradley, and are looking at various treatment options.

 

If its just the PCL, usually there's not a surgical procedure required unless its a grade III tear and even then its not that effective unless you've had prior knee injuries.

 

I'm hoping its just a series of discussions about how to treat the injury so he's ready to go come June, ie should he be sitting out Europa league/FA Cup matches, how long to rest it in the short term, etc.

 

If he misses the World Cup we're completely effed. We won't get out of the group stage.

[wolf stansson]

If he misses the World Cup we're completely effed. We won't get out of the group stage.

I still think we'd be favorites to come out of the group 2nd. Algeria has been awful in the ACN and Slovenia shouldn't scare us. Holden or Feilhaber would be adequate out right. Landon could pinch in on the left.

 

Ives has Holden to Braga: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/01/report-bolton-passes-on-holden-who-is-set-to-sign-with-braga.html

 

and Bradley sounding optimistic, or at least not ruling a return out: http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/01/usa-training-camp-notebook-bob-bradley-addresses-clint-dempsey-situation.html

 

"He's upbeat, he's waiting to see what they will tell him later in the day," Said Bradley. "It was odd how much came out yesterday. My experience is that you let doctor's do their jobs, but it doesn't help when information begins flying around."

 

While the severity of the injury remains unknown, Bradley was optimistic about the Fulham forward's ability to recover and contribute to Fulham and the U.S. national team.

 

"Clint was surprised about the number of texts and messages from people in the United States and if you know anything about Clint, you know that he's a upbeat and competitive guy and I believe that if this is indeed a little bit of a set back, I don't think that throws him off in terms of rehabbing and being ready to help Fulham and the U.S," said Bradley.

[Guest]

So now we have what, three our of our best four or five players out? I can't wait for Donovan to get hurt in April or May.

[USSoccer]

If he misses the World Cup we're completely effed. We won't get out of the group stage.

I still think we'd be favorites to come out of the group 2nd. Algeria has been awful in the ACN and Slovenia shouldn't scare us. Holden or Feilhaber would be adequate out right. Landon could pinch in on the left.

 

Who plays up front?

[wolf stansson]

If he misses the World Cup we're completely effed. We won't get out of the group stage.

I still think we'd be favorites to come out of the group 2nd. Algeria has been awful in the ACN and Slovenia shouldn't scare us. Holden or Feilhaber would be adequate out right. Landon could pinch in on the left.

 

Who plays up front?

Jozy and...who cares.

 

I'm not saying it's pretty by any means. In fact, it sucks. Especially considering Jozy's current garbage form.

 

I just think it can finish 2nd. Might not, but could.

 

God this sucks.

 

Anyway, here are some rumors:

Boca to St Etienne is a sale.

Clark plays for Eintract Frankfurt now and Bolton not done with Holden contrary to reports.

Spanish interest in Feilhaber.

[CubInOK]

Dempsey doesn't need surgery.

[wolf stansson]

Dempsey doesn't need surgery.

[USSoccer]

That was a really vague press release by Fulham. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

 

The info is consistent with a Grade II PCL injury. 6-8 weeks and then he can train. He should be back late March, early April barring setback, which means he's going to be a little more fresh than he would have been otherwise.

[brinoch]

If it is Grade II and Dempsey heals up okay, I think the rest and the break might really be good for him.

[sethuel1]

well, that was a useless friendly

[shnsajax]

well, that was a useless friendly

 

They could have just thrown out the U-20's instead today.